China Railway CRH5

The CRH5 Hexie, meaning Harmony, is an electric multiple unit high-speed train in use with China Railway High-speed in the northern regions of the People's Republic of China. It is based on the ETR-600 New Pendolino used in Italy, and the CRH5 are non-tilting trains developed for the Chinese Railways whose technology has been transferred to local manufacturers; they operate steadily at 250 kilometres per hour. In 2004 the Ministry of Railway in China contracted Alstom and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles to produce 60 sets with a maximum speed of 250 km/h, ordered around the same time as the CRH1A and CRH2A and designated CRH5A; 30 additional sets were ordered in 2009, 20 in 2010 and 30 more on 26 April 2011. Of the initial 60 sets, the first three were manufactured at Alstom's factory in Italy, the next six were delivered in complete knock down form and assembled by CNR Changchun, and the remaining 51 were built by CNR Changchun through technology transfer from Alstom. The CRH5A sets started service on 18 April 2007 on the Beijing-Harbin Railway.